War Is On The Horizon: Is It Too Late To Stop It? — Paul Craig Roberts

One lesson from military history is that once
mobilization for war begins, it takes on a momentum of its own and is
uncontrollable.

This might be what is occurring unrecognized before
our eyes.

In his September 28 speech at the 70th Anniversary of
the United Nations, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia can no
longer tolerate the state of affairs in the world. Two days later at the
invitation of the Syrian government Russia began war against ISIS.

Russia was quickly successful in destroying ISIS arms
depots and helping the Syrian army to roll back ISIS gains. Russia also
destroyed thousands of oil tankers, the contents of which were financing ISIS
by transporting stolen Syrian oil to Turkey where it is sold to the family of
the current gangster who rules Turkey.

Washington was caught off guard by Russia’s
desiveness. Fearful that the quick success of such decisive action by Russia
would discourage Washington’s NATO vassals from continuing to support
Washington’s war against Assad and Washington’s use of its puppet government in
Kiev to pressure Russia, Washington arranged for Turkey to shoot down a Russian
fighter-bomber despite the agreement between Russia and NATO that there would be
no air-to-air encounters in Russia’s area of air operation in Syria.

The Russian government’s low key response to the
provocation was used by Washington to reassure Europe that there is no risk in
continuing to pressure Russia in the Middle East, Ukraine, Georgia, Montenegro,
and elsewhere. Washington’s attack on Assad’s military is being used to reinforce
the belief that is being inculcated in European governments that Russia’s
responsible behavior to avoid war is a sign of fear and weakness.

It is unclear to what extent the Russian and Chinese
governments understand that their independent policies, reaffirmed by the
Russian and Chinese presidents On September 28, are regarded by Washington as
“existential threats” to US hegemony.

The basis of US foreign policy is the commitment to
prevent the rise of powers capable of constraining Washington’s unilateral
action. The ability of Russia and China to do this makes them both a target.

Washington is not opposed to terrorism. Washington has
been purposely creating terrorism for many years. Terrorism is a weapon that
Washington intends to use to destabilize Russia and China by exporting it to
the Muslim populations in Russia and China.

Washington is using Syria, as it used Ukraine, to
demonstrate Russia’s impotence to Europe— and to China, as an impotent Russia
is less attractive to China as an ally.

For Russia, responsible response to provocation has
become a liability, because it encourages more provocation.

In other words, Washington and the gullibility of its
European vassals have put humanity in a very dangerous situation, as the only
choices left to Russia and China are to accept American vassalage or to prepare
for war.

Putin must be respected for putting more value on
human life than do Washington and its European vassals and avoiding military
responses to provocations. However, Russia must do something to make the NATO
countries aware that there are serious costs of their accommodation of
Washington’s aggression against Russia. For example, the Russian government
could decide that it makes no sense to sell energy to European countries that
are in a de facto state of war against Russia. With winter upon us, the Russian
government could announce that Russia does not sell energy to NATO member
countries. Russia would lose the money, but that is cheaper than losing one’s
sovereignty or a war.

To end the conflict in Ukraine, or to escalate it to a
level beyond Europe’s willingness to participate, Russia could accept the
requests of the breakaway provinces to be reunited with Russia. For Kiev to
continue the conflict, Ukraine would have to attack Russia herself.

The Russian government has relied on responsible,
non-provocative responses. Russia has taken the diplomatic approach, relying on
European governments coming to their senses, realizing that their national
interests diverge from Washington’s, and ceasing to enable Washington’s
hegemonic policy. Russia’s policy has failed. To repeat, Russia’s low key,
responsible responses have been used by Washington to paint Russia as a paper
tiger that no one needs to fear.

We are left with the paradox that Russia’s determination
to avoid war is leading directly to war.

Whether or not the Russian media, Russian people, and
the entirety of the Russian government understand this, it must be obvious to
the Russian military. All that Russian military leaders need to do is to look at
the composition of the forces sent by NATO to “combat ISIS.” As George Albert
notes, the American, French, and British aircraft that have been deployed are
jet fighters whose purpose is air-to-air combat, not ground attack. The jet
fighters are not deployed to attack ISIS on the ground, but to threaten the
Russian fighter-bombers that are attacking ISIS ground targets.

There is no doubt that Washington is driving the world
toward Armageddon, and Europe is the enabler. Washington’s
bought-and-paid-for-puppets in Germany, France, and UK are either stupid,
unconcerned, or powerless to escape from Washington’s grip. Unless
Russia can wake up Europe, war is inevitable.

Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books areThe Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West